Key result
Anabolic steroid use was associated with lower myocardial native T1 values (888 vs 1020 ms, p=0.047) and impaired left ventricular strain compared to nonusers.
Why the study?
Anabolic androgenic steroid abuse causes myocardial toxicity, but human studies regarding myocardial fibrosis in these users have yielded conflicting findings.
Does anabolic androgenic steroid abuse alter myocardial tissue characteristics and contractility in strength-trained individuals?
Cross-Sectional (n=47)
Does anabolic androgenic steroid abuse alter myocardial tissue characteristics and contractility in strength-trained individuals?
Anabolic steroid abuse in young strength-trained individuals is associated with maladaptive cardiac hypertrophy, impaired myocardial contractility, and decreased native T1 values on CMR.
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
AAS users may warrant closer cardiac surveillance; leaves open prognostic value of T1 and contractility changes.
Anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) abuse leads to myocardial toxicity. Human studies are conflicting about the myocardial fibrosis in AAS users. We evaluated cardiac tissue characterization, left ventricle (LV) function, and cardiac structure by cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR). Twenty strength-trained AAS users (AASU) aged 29±5 yr, 20 strength-trained AAS nonusers (AASNU), and 7 sedentary controls (SC) were enrolled. Native T1 mapping, late-gadolinium enhancement (LGE), extracellular volume (ECV), and myocardial strain were evaluated. AASU showed lower Native T1 values than AASNU (888±162 vs. 1020±179 ms p=0.047). Focal myocardial fibrosis was found in 2 AASU. AASU showed lower LV radial strain (30±8 vs. 38±6%, p<0.01), LV circumferential strain (–17±3 vs. −20±2%, p<0.01), and LV global longitudinal strain (–17±3 vs. –20±3%, p<0.01) than AASNU by CMR. By echocardiography, AASU demonstrated lower 4-chamber longitudinal strain than AASNU (–15±g3 vs. –18±2%, p=0.03). ECV was similar among AASU, AASNU, and SC (28±10 vs. 28±7 vs. 30±7%, p=0.93). AASU had higher LV mass index than AASNU and SC (85±14 vs. 64±8 vs. 58±5 g/m2, respectively, p<0.01). AAS abuse may be linked to decreased myocardial native T1 values, impaired myocardial contractility, and focal fibrosis. These alterations may be associated with maladaptive cardiac hypertrophy in young AAS users.
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Souza et al. (2021) conducted a cross-sectional in Anabolic androgenic steroid abuse (n=47). Anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS) use vs. AAS nonusers and sedentary controls was evaluated on Native T1 values (p=0.047). Anabolic steroid use was associated with lower myocardial native T1 values (888 vs 1020 ms, p=0.047) and impaired left ventricular strain compared to nonusers.
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